Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park

The #IQMP’s groundbreaking earlier this month marked a significant step toward building the infrastructure, jobs and partnerships that will shape the next generation of discovery — all right here in #Illinois. See how collaboration is powering Illinois’ quantum future! Check out these highlights from the day featuring Governor JB Pritzker, our CEO Harley Johnson, anchor tenant PsiQuantum’s Maurice Green IV, South Chicago resident and small business owner Jorge Perez and Bowen High School Principal Priscilla Horton. #IQMPOpenForInnovation

It’s never too early to spark interest in the careers shaping the future of technology! Last week, executives from Pasqal, the newest tenant at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, joined students from across Chicago’s higher education ecosystem for a quantum careers information session and networking event hosted by #IQMP partner University of Illinois Chicago. More than 100 undergraduate and graduate students from institutions including Chicago State University, City Colleges of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, College of DuPage, Discovery Partners Institute and the P33 Chicago Exchange program came together to explore pathways into the growing #quantum sector. We were excited to officially welcome Pasqal as our newest tenant last week, and we’re proud to see our partners encourage and inspire students and educators shaping Illinois’ tech future! Learn more about Pasqal and why they chose to headquarter their U.S. operations here in Illinois: https://lnkd.in/gqdevbsS

The #IQMP staff continues to grow! We’re excited to welcome two new teammates, who recently joined us as Quantum Hardware R&D Program Managers. ⚛️ Amy Wu is a PhD graduate in Physics from the UC Irvine with a background in 2D materials, semiconducting metals and cryogenic transport measurements. Originally from Chicago, Amy is an alumna of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and is excited to apply her research expertise to practical challenges in technology development here in her hometown. ⚛️ Nicholas Kowalski received his PhD in Physics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and he previously completed his undergraduate degree at University of Chicago. As a subject matter expert in experimental #quantum physics and technology, he’s thrilled to return to the city to play a role in cementing the region as a global hub for all things quantum.

Preparing today’s students for the careers of tomorrow starts in the classroom with the educators who inspire them. Last week, #IQMP partner Discovery Partners Institute brought together more than 40 K-12 educators, counselors and administrators for their CS Educator Workshop Series, helping them explore Chicago’s tech and innovation ecosystem. IQMP was proud to be part of the conversation, sharing how we are working to create new pathways for students and teachers to engage with emerging technologies like #quantum. We’re grateful to collaborate with organizations like Discovery Partners Institute and Chicago Public Schools to build the next generation of innovators right here in Illinois!

We’re honored to welcome the #IQMP’s newest tenant Pasqal, a global leader in neutral-atom #quantum computing! Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced that Pasqal will establish their U.S. headquarters at the IQMP. With support from the state’s Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity (MICRO) Program, Pascal will invest more than $65 million in their first American location and create 50 new full-time jobs. We’re proud to welcome Pasqal to Illinois, where the company will work to accelerate the development of real-world #quantum applications. Learn more about this exciting announcement: https://lnkd.in/gHy4pJNE

It’s a thrilling time for the world of science and innovation! The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to three pioneers in the field, whose work in #quantum mechanics laid essential foundations for this technology. As we celebrate the International Year of Quantum (#IYQ2025) and reflect on 100 years of quantum science, this moment reminds us how far we’ve traveled — from theoretical curiosity to real, transformative possibility. #IQMP is honored to join the next chapter of this journey. Congratulations to the Nobel laureates: John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis. And congratulations to the global quantum community! Read more from Reuters: https://lnkd.in/gaqi-MU2

Congratulations to Casimir Peters, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Chief of Business attraction and Development, for being named to Crain's Chicago Business’s 40 Under 40 List! Cas has played a central role in securing some of our state’s biggest recent economic wins — including bringing the #IQMP and anchor tenant PsiQuantum to the shores of Lake Michigan. We’re grateful to have Cas’ leadership on our Board of Managers, and we’re proud to celebrate this recognition. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gdSdpQ6y #40Under40

ICYMI: Last week, we officially broke ground on the site of our future home! Take a look at some of our favorite pictures from the day. 📸 Thank you to all of the #IQMP partners, supporters and #TeamIllinois collaborators who helped bring this momentous occasion to life! Governor JB Pritzker Argonne National Laboratory Chicago Public Schools Chicago Quantum Exchange Chicago State University City Colleges of Chicago City of Chicago Cook County Government Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Diraq Discovery Partners Institute Duality Accelerator  Fermilab IBM Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Illinois EDC Illinois Institute of Technology Infleqtion Innovate Illinois Northwestern University P33 Chicago PsiQuantum Related Midwest University of Chicago University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois Chicago World Business Chicago

The site that once fueled America’s 20th-century economy is poised to now be the center of the globe’s #quantum future. With this week’s #IQMP groundbreaking, we’re one step closer to harnessing the power of this technology — driving billions in economic impact, creating thousands of jobs and cementing Illinois as the nation’s leader in the global race for quantum innovation. Read more in Reuters: https://lnkd.in/gUe4nUvn #IQMPOpenForInnovation

"With a growing roster of innovators calling IQMP home, we will position Illinois as the global leader in quantum innovation, unlocking new opportunities for scientific breakthroughs and economic advancement right here on the South Side.” -Governor JB Pritzker Yesterday, we were thrilled to join Governor Pritzker, our partners, community members and more from #TeamIllinois to celebrate the official #IQMP groundbreaking! IQMP will be home to the largest concentration of quantum activity in North America — transforming the former U.S. Steel site into a hub of innovation that is projected to generate billions in economic impact and thousands of jobs. With anchor tenant PsiQuantum and a host of world-leading companies, researchers and community partners coming together, this project is not only about building the quantum future but also about building opportunity for the South Side and beyond. Read more from Chicago Tribune about this milestone: https://lnkd.in/gtG7gCFg